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Any Aspies out there?

12-19-2012, 11:03 AM

Hi there -
Been primal for almost 2 years now. Coming up on my 2nd anniversary mid January 2013.
This fall I got diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome. Oddly enough as a 46 year old female, I finally feel like things now make sense on why things have never made sense all my life!

Funny is that primal really is the recommended diet for most kids on the spectrum. So trying to get an idea if there are any other AS adults out there.
How long have you been diagnosed as an Aspie?
What are some of your primal tips that have worked for you?

I'm re-looking at my total exercise & food to see if I can better manage the stress and meltdowns.
I don't eat any grains any more AT ALL. I still do dairy, but in form of cheese or HWC. Nuts in moderation.

Not diagnosed becuase I don't buy into psychology or psychiatry because we know absolutely nothing about how the human brain works on a software level and barely understand how things work on a hardware level...

However busy bodies regularly try to tell me I'm an aspie... although I don't think such a label shoudl even exist, they act like it's some disease that you are forced to live with... or perhaps it's just some people are smarter than others and with intelligence comes personality quirks.

Comment

I just found out last year! All of my weirdness can be found in the lists of aspie traits. Talking to animals, hearing supersonic sounds (TV tubes, bats, dog whistles, electronic rodent repellents, charging camera flashes, etc.), not caring what I wear, noticing every noise, missing social cues, intense focus on one subject of interest for long periods of time - it all makes sense!

And there are others here, too. I think Alex Good is, but I might have the wrong person. I never can remember who said what!

Crohn's, doing SCD

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I am a speech language pathologist and work with many chidren who are on the spectrum. I very much believe that what they eat contributes to this. If any one is willing to share I would be interested in hearing how changing your diet has helped/hindered, changed/not changed life for you. I know there is a tie between gluten and ASD but parents need to know this.

However busy bodies regularly try to tell me I'm an aspie... although I don't think such a label shoudl even exist, they act like it's some disease that you are forced to live with... or perhaps it's just some people are smarter than others and with intelligence comes personality quirks.

No when it comes to Aspergers it does not just mean bad or a disease. But there are many people who just can't function in the world and will need lifelong care. Yes they are what is termed autistic not aspergers; that is why it is called a spectrum. I do think for some people on the spectrum finding their abilities and helping them to learn how to use those in the most effective manner is important. But for others much more intensive interventions are needed.

Comment

I'm what you'd call a daywalker. Most of the benefits, very few of the disadvantages. I live in the world, I work in a hospital. My flowchart of appropriate behaviors and responses is refined enough that people feel comfortable enough calling me a weirdo to my face, which I'd consider success. But I also have all the cool stuff, the fact storage, etc. I'm glad to be who I am, and even happier to know now that I'm not the only one like me. The hard part is trying to convince obvious undiagnosed aspies to admit they ARE aspies. I frankly find it fun to tack "...because you have aspergers." to the end of their sentences. Bwah-hah-hah. It's true, I have no social fear. I just have to be logical and realize which offenses are serious and which are just fun hazing, so I don't get fired and have to live in the woods...

But to those who are really afflicted with the thousand mile stare and lack of confidence, I empathize.

Crohn's, doing SCD

Comment

I'm what you'd call a daywalker. Most of the benefits, very few of the disadvantages. I live in the world, I work in a hospital. My flowchart of appropriate behaviors and responses is refined enough that people feel comfortable enough calling me a weirdo to my face, which I'd consider success. But I also have all the cool stuff, the fact storage, etc. I'm glad to be who I am, and even happier to know now that I'm not the only one like me. The hard part is trying to convince obvious undiagnosed aspies to admit they ARE aspies. I frankly find it fun to tack "...because you have aspergers." to the end of their sentences. Bwah-hah-hah. It's true, I have no social fear. I just have to be logical and realize which offenses are serious and which are just fun hazing, so I don't get fired and have to live in the woods...

But to those who are really afflicted with the thousand mile stare and lack of confidence, I empathize.

Sounds like you did get all of the good stuff. It truly is a spectrum and no two people are the same. Because I work with children I see the hearbreak and struggles and I want to fix it. I am thrilled you have been successful.

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I think I am on the spectrum but have never been diagnosed. When I read the traits things seemed to fit. It seems to run in the family. I have cousins (two sisters and a brother) that all made great grades (valedictorians). One became a post graduate physicist but quit on his PhD. All three (esp one of the sisters who everyone else things is crazy) don't function well in social settings. I believe their dad (my uncle) was also an aspie.

I have a nephew who has two boys that have been diagnosed with autism. It puts forth the question of genetics in my mind. I have another cousin who might also be on the spectrum. When I describe it to him he just smiled and nodded in the affirmative. He's more like me. We don't like crowds but function fine in most social settings.

What asperger's seems to do is give this cousin and myself the ability to focus for long periods of time on things that interests us. He's become one of the best bowers in the world and sells custom made longbows for upwards of $1000 ea but he has little interest outside that. My interest tends to change over time but I get obsessed with learning as much about that thing as I can.

Don't know if I trust this but I once took one of these online BS IQ tests and scored 147 on the associative horizon, which aspies are supposed to be good at. I suck at writing and could never figure out why yet I'm good at (visual) mathematics and have a gift for drawing that I never really had to work very hard at. http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...92332059_n.jpg To know for sure if I am I would have to get tested and it just isn't worth it to me spend the time. I can't say the eating this way has had any affect one way or the other

Would I be putting a grain-feed cow on a fad diet if I took it out of the feedlot and put it on pasture eating the grass nature intended?

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When I became diagnosed with Asperger's about five years ago, I had a real "aha" moment. Certainly explains why I've been a total social failure and haven't had a decent relationship in years.

But I can't say that being primal has made like a huge difference in my symptoms or anything.

On a related subject though, what opinion do you guys have on the change in diagnostic criteria coming in the4 DSM-V? Apparently PDD, Asperger's, ect. are all out the door. The only diagnoses that will exist anymore is "Autistic Spectrum Disorder." In addition, they will be increasing the number of symptoms you must match in order to recieve a diagnoses, so getting a diagnoses will be much more difficult for some. I was a little annoyed to hear this because there will be a LOT of people who could use some real help and services that won't be able to get them just because they don't meet "every last criteria" necessary in order to receive the diagnoses they need to get any useful services. Ugh.

"The cling and a clang is the metal in my head when I walk. I hear a sort of, this tinging noise - cling clang. The cling clang. So many things happen while walking. The metal in my head clangs and clings as I walk - freaks my balance out. So the natural thought is just clogged up. Totally clogged up. So we need to unplug these dams, and make the the natural flow... It sort of freaks me out. We need to unplug the dams. You cannot stop the natural flow of thought with a cling and a clang..."

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I have a family member who exhibits many of the symptoms, even though a psychologist tested him and said he wasn't meeting criteria. He does have extreme social anxiety and at one time was borderling agoraphobic. He is doing much better on a paleo diet. He was just telling me that when he has any junk food or dairy he notices his anxiety levels increase for a couple days. I have noticed a big change in his ability to cope since he changed to a paleo diet. And.......... he lost 130 pounds. Double bonus! He works full time and is very successful at what he's doing. Oh, and fwiw........... as a child he tested out at 142 IQ.

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I just found out last year! All of my weirdness can be found in the lists of aspie traits. Talking to animals, hearing supersonic sounds (TV tubes, bats, dog whistles, electronic rodent repellents, charging camera flashes, etc.), not caring what I wear, noticing every noise, missing social cues, intense focus on one subject of interest for long periods of time - it all makes sense!

Comment

I was a little annoyed to hear this because there will be a LOT of people who could use some real help and services that won't be able to get them just because they don't meet "every last criteria" necessary in order to receive the diagnoses they need to get any useful services. Ugh.

Why do you need someone to tell you you are different? You'll never catch me in any sort of psychologist or psychiatrists office, too many ways for governments, insurance companies etc to use it against you to deny you rights. If you've ever been treated for depression in the U.S. you can be denied a firearm permit and can get denied for purchased through an FFL for example.

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Food choice change was the biggest. No more IBS, no heart burn. No sugar headaches. Ditching grains took awhile but haven't had them in over year. I used to try to make substitutes, now just don't care.

My goal for reaching out to this community was to see if there were other things people fine tuned that helped manage triggers.

I am figuring out that the exercise really has to be a bigger part. I had knee surgery this summer and it has been slow coming back beyond just walking. Only now can get into the gym for weights and was released for sprints. So it is funny to come full circle back to primal, discover something new about my self (like I am really different and no, I don't understand you, and no, you can't fix me). It is truly exciting.